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Keri Anne Payne camp makes waves as rival eyes Games return

Craig Lord

October 12 2011, 8:18pm, The Times

Payne is concerned about the Russian's test-pool absence

British Swimming will question the eligibility of Keri-Anne Payne’s biggest rival, the Russian Olympic champion whose retirement had been announced, to defend her Games ten-kilometre marathon title in London next year.

Larisa Ilchenko, 23, the most decorated woman in open water, pipped Payne to gold in Beijing and has hinted at a comeback, but has not been drug-tested since July of last year before her retirement was reported widely in March.

However, after Ilchenko told Novosti, Russia’s state news agency, that she did “not exclude the possibility that I will prepare for the next Games”, Fina, the sport’s governing body, said: “She never officially announced her retirement to Fina.” That means no farewell papers were lodged with the federation.